Here in Etobicoke, we have successfully achieved our goals year after year, but we strive every year to do better!  We can only speak to our accomplishments to date, and these encompass donations to multiple local hospitals, health dare centres, neighbourhood parks, youth related programs, both public and separate schools, women’s programs and recreational facilities. 

Delivering a fun-filled family event at Toronto Ribfest on Canada Day weekend every year at Centennial Park is how we raise the money to return to the community.  Your community and mine.  Look around and you will find the Rotary Wheel on multiple projects throughout Etobicoke, Ontario, every province in Canada, and around the world.

Local community organizations or organizations that are delivering programs within Etobicoke are welcome to use our online donation application to request funding.  Note: funding will only be considered for non-core, one time requirements. 

The Rotary Club of Etobicoke’s “HANDS ON ETOBICOKE” initiative is the arm of the club that focuses directly on the needs of the immediate community.

 The Hands on Etobicoke is a committee that has been growing over the past few years to meet a need in our community to get out there and not only see what’s going on, but ensure we are helping those who are making a real difference.  Typically Rotary Etobicoke fills Community Service grant requests for local agencies with funding, which is of course necessary, but through HANDS ON we can “be there” for our partners if they need us.  Here are a few typical endeavors:

• Painting rooms and providing meals at Youth Without Shelter

• Buying and providing necessities and gifts for women in the many shelters in Etobicoke

• Packing baskets full of items needed for those women to get back on their feet and out of the shelter when they’re ready

• Cooking meals at St. Margaret’s and St. Matthew’s Churches for the Lakeshore Out of the Cold Program

• Working with social workers to visit and provide gift bags to seniors

• Packing food in conjunction with Kids Against Hunger for local food banks

• Helping clients choose furniture from The Furniture Bank or fixing donated items in their workshop

We not only learn a lot by getting inside each agency, we also develop fantastic relationships.There are so many people doing wonderful things to help those in need. HANDS ON enables Rotarian to see the direct effect of our donations as well as getting to know the changemakers and their challenges.It really helps make sure that Rotary serves those who will serve their clients and the community best.